Pathfinder TCCTA

Rob served for more than a decade as a director, dean, and provost in the California community college system, before branching out to  begin his work helping a number of colleges, as well as regional and national organizations, navigate their way through his challenging new landscape.

The San Jacinto College District has received considerable national attention for the work they've done to improve student outcomes. They've worked with philanthropy, partners in the Houston area, researchers and, crucially, they've formed teams across the institution to look closely at what's happening that inhibits student success or keeps them moving forward. 
A key figure in this work has been Laurel Williamson, Deputy Chancellor and College President at the District. It's been her role to oversee many of these efforts, and help make sure things are done in an integrated way.

I sat down a few weeks ago, in Dallas, with Senator Florence Shapiro, former chair of the Senate Education Committee. She's now working with the Texas Association of Community Colleges to help communicate their message to members of the Texas Legislature. You can tell, right away in our conversation, how deeply she cares about these issues and the students at our institutions. 

How do we encourage the adoption of good idea? How to we create a culture that promotes and internalizes positive change? Wynn Rosser, the president and CEO of the Template foundation, has spent the better part of his career wrestling with these questions.
Resources mentioned on today's episode:
The Fifth Discipline, Peter M. Senge
The Fifth Discipline Field Book, Peter M. Senge
Trying Hard Is Not Good Enough, Mark Friedman

Tanya Garcia is the Associate Director of Postsecondary Policy Research at the Center for Education in the Workforce at Georgetown University. She’s working to support states integrating postsecondary and labor market data to improve policy and practice. She hopes her work and the work of the Center can help institutions understand and make better decisions at the intersection between the academy and the workplace.


Resources mentioned on today's episode:
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, Susan Cain 
The stories of J.F. Powers, J. F. Powers
Sunrise, Sunset, Edwidge Danticat
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz

Nathan Venske is the Associate Dean of Student Services at Jackson College in Michigan. He and his colleagues have devoted a great deal of time and energy to improving the experience their students have. They've received some grants to support these efforts, and they've had a chance to look closely at what they're doing from the student's perspective. 
Nathan has been the Associate Dean of Student Services at Jackson College since 2014. In his time at Jackson, Nathan has directly overseen the complete revamp of the academic advising model, new student orientation, and student intake process. Using the Michigan Career Pathways information and the Big 5 personality assessment, Nathan created a new student intake assessment that has been integral to the work of the Student Success Navigators. This intake assessment, coupled with a robust Outreach and Intervention plan, guides the Navigator’s daily work. Data-driven approaches have been the hallmark of the recent innovations and changes that Nathan has brought to his role at Jackson College.

Resources mentioned on today's episode:
Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl